Today's Down Crossword NYT December 26, 2025 - Every Vertical Solution Explained
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 35 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: Todays NYT Crossword Across Clues_21 | July 03 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | Xwordhint Crossword Answers December 02 |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 26, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Friday |
| Total Down Clues | 35 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Medium |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 35 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. How a supervillain might brag |
| 2 Down | 2. Flip |
| 3 Down | 3. Waiting for support, maybe |
| 4 Down | 4. Like untended plots |
| 5 Down | 5. Funeral ___ |
| 6 Down | 6. Broad band? |
| 7 Down | 7. Royal Australian Air Force insignia |
| 8 Down | 8. Competition that combines speed with balance |
| 9 Down | 9. Professor Dumbledore |
| 10 Down | 10. Contest |
| 11 Down | 11. Bevy : quail :: parliament : ___ |
| 12 Down | 12. The world's end, in Norse mythology |
| 13 Down | 13. Mr. or Ms. Right |
| 14 Down | 14. Baby sitter? |
| 15 Down | 21. Half of a classic rum cocktail's name |
| 16 Down | 24. Component of a nautilus shell |
| 17 Down | 25. Eric who wrote and illustrated "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me" |
| 18 Down | 27. Stick by a fireplace |
| 19 Down | 28. Mantra |
| 20 Down | 29. Nearby things |
| 21 Down | 30. Like the pope's guards |
| 22 Down | 31. Area on which to eat or play cards |
| 23 Down | 32. "You can absolutely count on me" |
| 24 Down | 33. Figure in sci-fi's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman," e.g. |
| 25 Down | 34. Great illustrations |
| 26 Down | 38. Connected |
| 27 Down | 39. Sister of Moses |
| 28 Down | 40. Worth considering |
| 29 Down | 41. Made up |
| 30 Down | 43. Nation dubbed the "cradle of mankind" |
| 31 Down | 44. "Understood?" |
| 32 Down | 46. Big break |
| 33 Down | 47. Stack (up) |
| 34 Down | 49. Casting need |
| 35 Down | 51. Short diner order |
Detailed Hints and Answers for All Down Clues
Need help? Here are comprehensive hints and answers for each Down clue. Also check these helpful guides:
- February 02 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- February 02 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
- May 05 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers December 02
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. How a supervillain might brag"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: S____Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: in a smug manner
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SMUGLY
2 Down: "2. Flip"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: L____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LOSEIT
3 Down: "3. Waiting for support, maybe"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: O____D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ONHOLD
4 Down: "4. Like untended plots"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: W___Y
- Similar words: scrawny, underweight
- Opposite of: weedless
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: abounding with or resembling weeds
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WEEDY
5 Down: "5. Funeral ___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P__E
- Similar words: funeral pyre
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: wood heaped for burning a dead body as a funeral rite
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PYRE
6 Down: "6. Broad band?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'I'
- Similar words: obeah
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OBI
7 Down: "7. Royal Australian Air Force insignia"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: K______O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KANGAROO
8 Down: "8. Competition that combines speed with balance"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 15 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E_____________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EGGANDSPOONRACE
9 Down: "9. Professor Dumbledore"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A___S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALBUS
10 Down: "10. Contest"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: B__T
- Similar words: round, bust
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BOUT
11 Down: "11. Bevy : quail :: parliament : ___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'L'
- Similar words: bird of Minerva, bird of night
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OWL
12 Down: "12. The world's end, in Norse mythology"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: R______K
- Similar words: Gotterdammerung
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAGNAROK
13 Down: "13. Mr. or Ms. Right"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T______E
- Similar words: sweetheart, sweetie
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person loved by another person
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRUELOVE
14 Down: "14. Baby sitter?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S______R
- Similar words: baby carriage, go-cart
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: someone who walks at a leisurely pace
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STROLLER
15 Down: "21. Half of a classic rum cocktail's name"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'I'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MAI
16 Down: "24. Component of a nautilus shell"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: N___E
- Similar words: mother-of-pearl
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NACRE
17 Down: "25. Eric who wrote and illustrated "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: C___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CARLE
18 Down: "27. Stick by a fireplace"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: M___H
- Similar words: equalize, gibe
- Opposite of: disagree
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MATCH
19 Down: "28. Mantra"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: C___T
- Similar words: cantillate, intone
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CHANT
20 Down: "29. Nearby things"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THESE
21 Down: "30. Like the pope's guards"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S___S
- Similar words: Swiss people
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the natives or inhabitants of Switzerland
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SWISS
22 Down: "31. Area on which to eat or play cards"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: T______P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the top horizontal work surface of a table
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TABLETOP
23 Down: "32. "You can absolutely count on me""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: I______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IPROMISE
24 Down: "33. Figure in sci-fi's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman," e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: G______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a female giant
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GIANTESS
25 Down: "34. Great illustrations"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: E______S
- Similar words: epitome, paradigm
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a standard or typical example
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EPITOMES
26 Down: "38. Connected"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: contact, converge
- Opposite of: diverge
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: come together
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MET
27 Down: "39. Sister of Moses"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: M____M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MIRIAM
28 Down: "40. Worth considering"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O____E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OFNOTE
29 Down: "41. Made up"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A____D
- Similar words: abye, atone
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: make amends for
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATONED
30 Down: "43. Nation dubbed the "cradle of mankind""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: K___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KENYA
31 Down: "44. "Understood?""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: G___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GOTME
32 Down: "46. Big break"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: R__T
- Similar words: breach, severance
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a gap between cloud masses
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RIFT
33 Down: "47. Stack (up)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P__E
- Similar words: stack, stilt
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a collection of objects laid on top of each other
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PILE
34 Down: "49. Casting need"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: break down, snuff it
- Opposite of: be born
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DIE
35 Down: "51. Short diner order"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'T'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BLT
Expert Strategies for Solving Down Clues
Master the vertical clues with these professional tips:
Why Start with Down Clues?
- Down clues often reveal key letters for intersecting words
- Vertical patterns can unlock difficult sections
- Many prefixes and suffixes run vertically
- Down answers often help solve Across clues
Down Clue Patterns to Recognize
- Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Down entries
- Prefixes and suffixes: Common word parts often run vertically
- Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
- Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Down
- Pop culture references: Names and titles often appear vertically
Time-Saving Down Techniques
| Technique | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Scan all Down first | Get a mental map of the vertical flow |
| Fill short Down words | 3-4 letter words are often prefixes or connectors |
| Use crossing letters | Across letters help confirm Down answers |
| Look for themes | Related Down answers often share a theme |
Frequently Asked Questions About Down Clues
What are Down clues in crossword puzzles?
Down clues are the vertical entries in a crossword puzzle that read from top to bottom. They're numbered and correspond to specific columns in the grid.
Should I solve Down or Across clues first?
Many solvers alternate between Down and Across clues to build momentum. Down clues can help unlock difficult sections by providing key intersecting letters. The best approach is to solve the clues you find easiest first, regardless of direction.
How many Down clues are in today's puzzle?
Today's NYT crossword has 35 Down clues.
Are Down clues easier than Across clues?
Neither direction is inherently easier. The difficulty depends on the specific clues and your knowledge. However, Down clues often contain helpful prefixes, suffixes, and word parts that can be easier to guess.
How do Down clues interact with Across clues?
Down and Across clues intersect at various points in the grid. Solving one can provide letters that help solve the other, making the puzzle easier as you progress.
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